By Mike Waters
Football coaches, on every level, strive for offensive balance — solid ground game paired with a strong passing attack.
Accomplishing that goal is never an easy task.
Episcopal School of Dallas head coach Bob Benson is a strong believer in that philosophy.
“We want to have that combination,” said coach Benson, in his first season leading the gridiron program. “We are going to be a running team. And be able to throw the ball.”
ESD personifies that “offensive balance” and it continued with a dominating 52-21 victory over Austin St. Andrew’s in an SPC 3A contest at Jones Family Stadium Thursday.
The triumph kept the Eagles unbeaten with a 7-0 record (4-0 in SPC 3A).
Senior quarterback Miles Link turned in another stellar performance under center, completing 19-of-23 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 42 yards and a score.
Running back Nico Marquez had touchdown runs of 8 and 3 yards in the opening quarter to stake ESD to a 14-0 lead.
Link owned the second period, with a 6-yard touchdown scamper in the first minute. The savvy signal-caller connected with JE Sowa and Curtis Mathes on scoring strikes of 15 and 40 yards, respectively, as ESD held a commanding 38-7 lead at intermission, which included a William Adamson 39-yard field goal with 19 ticks heading to halftime.
The Eagles scored on all six offensive possessions in the first half — five touchdowns and a field goal.
“Miles Link did an outstanding job executing the offense,” Benson said. “He and the whole offense continues to get better and better as the season goes along.”
Sophomore Fred Merkt, who had a team-high 68 rushing yards on 13 carries, capped an eight-play, 78-yard drive coming out of the break powering in for a 6-yard touchdown run.
After Mathes’ second touchdown catch on the next offensive series with just over four minutes left in the third stretched the margin to 52-7, a rolling clock took effect.
St. Andrews managed a pair of touchdowns the rest of the way for the final margin.
ESD leading rusher Marquez only played the first quarter, in which he ran for 55 yards on eight attempts.
“He got banged up a bit in the first period,” Benson said. “We don’t think it is anything serious. We were just being cautious and are hoping he is good to go next week.”
Mathes finished with a game-high 138 receiving yards on six catches and the two scores. Beckett Concors led the defensive effort with 11 tackles.
St. Andrews (3-3, 1-3) was paced by quarterback Charlie Greenberg, totaling 158 passing yards and two touchdowns. Running back Hayes Paddock contributed 84 rushing yards on 21 attempts.
Benson and his staff have enjoyed remarkable success in guiding the team to a 7-0 record. “We’ve only had these kids since July,” Benson said. “We are all doing this together, and continue to get better.”
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